IT wasn’t quite the Ashes, but a Southampton business’ cricket team was delighted to claim victory over a Portsmouth rival.

Property professionals from across the two Hampshire cities got stuck into their own version of the game at Fareham and Crofton Cricket Club.

Southampton Property Association took a hard-fought nine-run victory over Portsmouth Property Association in a tight finish and wrestled the engraved silver trophy back.

David McGougan, captain of the triumphant Southampton team, was delighted with the win but suggested their post-game meal had been sabotaged.

He said: “To the victor, the spoils.

“As part of the celebrations Our guys tucked into barbecued burgers afterwards. although we noticed that the PPA team emptied the tomato ketchup before we could get stuck in.

Game organiser Mike Marchant, who captained the Portsmouth side, said: “As always there was good-natured rivalry between the two sides.

“We can console ourselves with the fact that we played with one man short.”